If Saint Paul were walking through the streets of our cities today, he would surely be looking for hearts willing to listen to and put into practice the words he addressed to Timothy, his beloved son in the Lord:
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus… proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, rebuke, and encourage with unfailing patience and a desire to teach… For the time will come when people will no longer tolerate sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:1–8)
Today, more than ever, we need courageous preachers who are committed to proclaiming the message of salvation, just as Saint Paul, Saint Dominic, and Saint Francisco Coll did in their own time. It is a commitment that calls for boldness and patience, perseverance and conviction, because we see how, little by little, the sense of life’s true meaning is fading. Humanity is groping in the dark, trying to fill the emptiness left by the absence of God, while others attempt to fill that void with countless ideological proposals that ultimately destroy the human person.
Within each of us lies an original grace waiting to be awakened. That grace must be brought to life so that we may become light: “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14), for this is the purpose for which we have been called. The preacher, like a skilled dowser who discovers hidden springs, helps people, through the proclamation of the Gospel, to uncover the wellspring of life that dwells in the heart of every man and woman who encounters God and is transformed by the power of His grace.
The Gospel reminds us that we are light and are called to shine; we are salt and are called to give flavor to life, to our families, and to our relationships. May no one rob us of this first vocation, the only one capable of transforming the world into a welcoming home for all humanity, where every person feels loved, recognized, and awaited.
The world needs preachers. The world needs women and men who preach the Gospel. Will you answer the call?
Then the words of Isaiah 52 will become a reality:
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings, who announces salvation, who says: ‘Your God reigns!'”
Sr. Susana Ruani
Province of Santa Rosa de Lima
